 |
| On The Cover: Melissa Velia | Bystander Mag Interview |
Melissa Velia's retro glam aesthetic has earned her a special place among today's fashion designers. Pulling inspiration from decades past while adding her own special touches has resulted in a contemporary line that's sophisticated, refreshing, and ultimately feminine. From her signature bow belts to an upcoming handbag line of original pieces, Melissa Velia is definitely one to keep on your radar.
Find out how her love of making couture-worthy dresses for her Barbie dolls and altering thrifted clothes turned into a full-fledged fashion career.
Bonus: there's a giveaway in it for you! Details at the end.
How did you get started as a fashion designer?
Well, fashion has truly been a life long passion of mine. It began at a very young age, while designing and sewing new clothes for my Barbie dolls.
I began my career in the fashion industry when I was 20 years old. My first job in the business was working in retail for Guess. From there, I went on to work for other labels and my job title quickly grew and evolved from a showroom manager to a wholesale rep, and from assistant designer to production manager.--all the while, taking notes and saving everything! Then in 2008, I opened an online boutique where I was buying and selling accessories and handbags. That finally opened the door for me to launch my own label, Melissa Velia.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
I would say it is truly guided by the past. I grew up with parents who played records and shopped at thrift stores before they were even a thing. One of the things I'd love to do most with my mom, was to go thrift shopping for clothes from other decades. Then we'd take them home and alter them to perfection. So to go back to the question, I would describe it as feminine vintage, with modern touches.
Where do you look to for inspiration for your designs?
The past of course! Ha. I think I was the only person in college (FIDM) who didn't know who Valentino was. To me, fashion was always art, almost like a state of feeling. Therefore, I never cared who made what or what trend was happening. I just loved feeling the different fabrics and seeing what silhouettes looked best on women. Till this day, although I do know and love Valentino, Chanel and others, my work is always inspired by the fabrics I touch and the history I see.
Tell us about your favorite piece or item to make.
One of my favorite pieces would have to be the Black Velvet Bow Belt. It is truly a timeless piece and continues to be my best seller world-wide every year. It's a favorite from Paris to Australia and all over the U.S.
What are your favorite spring trends?
Well I'm not really a trend follower, therefore I'm not really sure. Funny thing is, what comes to mind is, "Florals for spring, groundbreaking...", said by Miranda Priestly on The Devil Wears Prada.
What else can we expect from you in the near future? Lots of new things! One of the things I'm most excited about are the handbags I'll be launch this fall. Each bag will be an original. They will be named and given a personality description. Some bags will even have a bow belt to match. I might even do a soft launch this summer for a couple of bags. Truly exciting.
Any advice for aspiring fashion designers?
Start from the bottom and work your way up. Take notes and save things.
All photos courtesy of Melissa Velia
Learn More:
Follow Melissa Velia here:
No comments:
Post a Comment